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The yeren (Chinese: 野人; pinyin: Yé Rén; lit. 'field/rural people') were peasants and commoners under the ancient Zhou dynasty China (11th-3rd centuries BC). Living mostly in underdeveloped rural areas, they were considered uncivil people by the upper class guoren (國人; "city people"), who regarded themselves as cultured citizens living within the walls of larger urban settlements.

Zilu, one of Confucius's favorite disciples, was considered to be one and the Analects includes a passage giving the yeren primacy over the Zhou in having undergone the influence of "ritual and music".

See also

• Hua–Yi distinction

Notes

1. Chinese: 先進於禮樂，野人也。

References

Citations

1. "Chapter XI, verse 1". confucius.org.
2. Eno (2003), p. 30.

Bibliography

• Eno, Robert (2003), "The Background of the Kong Family of Lu and the Origins of Ruism" (PDF), Early China, vol. 28, pp. 1–41.

• Zhou dynasty people